Modi woos urban poor with Rs 13k cr scheme

Ahmedabad, Mar 28 | Updated: Mar 29 2007, 07:35am hrs

After the tribal populace and the coastal dwellers, it is time for the urban poor to receive a bonanza from the state government. Eyeing the forthcoming elections, state chief minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, announced a Rs 13,000 crore package for the overall development of urban poor in the state. The package will be implemented over the next five years and around 50 lakh urban poor of the state are likely to benefit.

The package, called the Garib Samriddhi Scheme (a scheme for prosperity of poor), aims at providing all necessary infrastructure facilities to the urban poor as well upgradation of infrastructure in slum areas. It will also provide affordable houses, generate employment and cater to the health and nutritional needs of the urban poor, who constitute around 16% of the total population in the state.

Emphasising that the government was committed to the development of deprived, state chief minister Narendra Modi, said, These people are deprived of employment and other essential amenities.